Collar pressing machine



Nov. 13, 1934. w. J. BEATTIE COLLAR PRESSING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 12, 1934 1934- w. J. BEATTIE COLLAR PRESSING MACHINE Filed March 12, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 j the article.

Patented Nov. 13, 1934 UNHTED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLAR PRESSING MACHINE lValter J Beatfie, Cohoes, N. Y.', assignor to The Beattie Manufacturing Company, Cohoes, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 12, 1934, Serial No. 715,244

16 Claims.

This invention relates to ironing or pressing machines, especially designed for ironing collars, and other similar articles. The machine is particularly adapted for use in the home by the housewife or laundress, although it will also find wide utility in commercial laundries.

When mens collars are laundered in the home, it is practically impossible to give them the same finished appearance that the collars originally 1 had when they left the manufacturing plant.

' that gives a new collar a distinctive and attractached types, because flat ironing of any tapered article necessarily results in puckering or wrinkling of portions of the' article.

The principal object of this invention is to pro vide an ironing appliance which overcomes the above difliculties of present day conventional practice. Primarily, it is an object of the invention to provide a device which will impart to collars the desired tapering form.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ironing machine which is adapted to iron collars of all of the standard different sizes.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine of the class described which is inexpensive, simple, of a relatively small size, and not likely to get out of order. c

In the accompanying drawings, a specific embodiment of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention is disclosed, but it must be understood that the drawings are illustrative only, and that the invention is not limited to the details thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view. of the machine. a

Figure 2 is a front elevational view.

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a special ironing tool adapted for use with the machine of the invention, and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View of the tool of Figure 4.

The machine of the present invention consists essentially of a heated form adapted to support a collar, in combination with an ironing appliance associated with the form and mounted in such manner that an ironing pad may be moved over the surface of the form to smooth and iron a collar positioned thereon. In the drawings, a substantially frusto-conical tapering form is shown supported upon. a base 11. Associated with the base is a clamp l2-comprising a downwardly facingsurface 13 adapted to be placed upona bench or table, and'a threaded clamping bolt-14. By this or any equivalent means the form may be clamped in any convenient positionin the laundry, and readily removed when not in use. Although the collar supporting form 10 may be heated by any appropriate'medium, an electrical heating unit is preferred. In the drawings, such a unitis shown at 15, and the same may be supported by an appropriate; mounting 16 on the upper-surface of the base plate 11. An electrical conduit-l7 extends outwardly through an appropriate hole in theplate 11,and the same maybe connected to any suitable source of electrical energy.

. The collar supporting form is of tapering shape, so that collars of different sizes may be supported thereon at different positions or levels, in snug fit. Preferably, the exterior surface of the form is provided with a longitudinally extending groove or recess 18 which is adapted to receive the collar button of a collar supported on the form, so that the button will not interfere with the ironing appliance, and, furthermore, so that the button will not leave an objectionable mark upon the finished collar.

The-upper end of the form preferably is provided with an inwardly projecting hollow boss 19, and the central bore 20 thereof is machined to cylindrical shape, to act as a bearing surface for a pivot stud associated with the ironing appliance, now to be described.

The device associated with the collar supporting form and adapted to smooth and iron the exterior surface of the collar may conveniently take the form of the devicedisclosed in the drawings, although many modifications will readily occur to one skilled in the art. This appliance includes a pivot stud 21 removably and rotatably mounted in the bore 20 of the boss, and having an enlarged head 21' provided with a horizontal bore 22. A laterally projecting arm 23 is pivotally connected tothe head of the stud by a suitable pin 24. This arm has an appropriate clamping device at its outer end, and the same is adapted to adjustably hold a depending bar 25. Although any appropriate type of clamp may be used, one of the cam type has been found to be satisfactory. In the drawings, a cam member 26 is mounted on a pin 27 disposed near the outer end of the arm 23. This cam is provided with a rearwardly extending operating handle 28. Thus, by raising and lowering the handle 28, the cam 26 may be rotated, so that the outer surface thereof moves toward or away from the bar 25 to clamp or to release the same.

The bar 25 carries, at its lower end, an ironing tool indicated generally at 29, which may or may not be electrically heated. The tool comprises an ironing pad 30, a spacing block 31 and an operating handle 32. The inner face of the ironing pad is concave on a horizontal section, but is substantially straight ona vertical section. The curve of concavity of the surface of the pad shouldnot be any sharper than the convex curve of the outer surface of the'tapering form at its larger end, because if it were, the end portions only of the ironing pad would come in contact with a collar of large size, and an eflicient ironing operation would be diflic'ult. Asan alternative, the pad may be of spring-like, flexible metal to permit the concave face of the pad to bend or flex and conform to the -surface of the conical form, on all different arcs thereof.

The vertical dimension of the ironing pad 30 should be sufficiently long to permit the pad to cover an entire section of a, collar from its upper edge to its lower edge. In other words. the height of the pad should be equal to or greater than the height of average collars at the points, so that the vertical position of the pad need not be changed during an ironing operation on any particular collar.

In the use of the apparatus of the present invention, a freshly laundered, damp collar is applied to the form, either 'by wrappin'gitj around the upper small end, buttoning it, and then sliding -itdownwardly, or by applying the buttoned the collar on the formgsmall wrinkles and the like may be eliminated, and the interior ply of the collar is thus heated, dried and smoothed. The ironing appliance is then placed in position and the handle 28 of the clamp moved so that the pad 30 maybe adjusted to overlie the collar. The clamp is then tightened, and the ironing attachment is ready for use. Because of the pivotal mounting, an operator may grasp the handle 32 and move the ironing pad around the surface of the collar on a horizontal path, to smooth, iron and polish the .exterior surface of the collar. Since the path of movement of the ironing pad is relatively fixed, the ironing operation may be performed very rapidly, and uniformly successful results will aways be accomplished. Thus, both the inner and outer surface of the collar are ironed, and the correct tapered shape is applied to the collar.

The device is equally useful for ironing both collars which are permanently attached to shirts and for collars which are detachable.

As stated above, the ironing pad may be electrically heated, and if such a construction 'isdesired, a heating element 33 may be secured therein. The wires for the heating element may be threaded upwardly through an appropriate conduit in the vertical bar 25, or disposed in any other convenient manner.

A modified form of ironing tool is shown in Figures 4 and 5, and this tool may be used in association, with the vertical bar 25 and the other parts, or it may be merely held in the hand of the operator and moved over the surface of a collar. In any event, it cooperates with the form to iron the exterior surface of the collar and give a predetermined, desired rounded surface to the upper edge of the collar. Referring to Figures 4 and 5, it willbe seen that the tool 35 is concave on a horizontal plane in a manner similar to the pad 30. Adjacent the upper edge of the tool, as shown in Figure 5, there is a relatively sharply rounded concave surface 36 which is adapted to be placed over the upper edge of the collar to give the folded edge the proper rounded and polishedsurfac'e.

Many modifications of the device shown in the drawings will readily occur to one skilled in the art. For instance, the ironing appliance may be pivoted about the axis of theiform at the lower end thereof, so that it will not be necessary to remove the attachment when collars are slipped on and off of the form over the small end. Such a construction presents certain advantages, but is disadvantageous for the reason that the necessary movement of the parts may be hindered by thebody of a shirt hanging downwardly from the form;

The necessity for a vertically adjustable mounting for'the pad 30 can be dispensed with by making the vertical dimension of the pad sufficiently long to overlie completely, all sizes of collars supported on the form. Such a pad should beofa height substantially equal to the height of the frusto-conical form, so, as to iron collars supported at any level thereon. 3

Kit is desired to heat the ironing pad 30 b electric current, it may be desirable to lead the current through a wire extending upwardly from the wirel'l inside of the form to a socket mounted upon the boss 19. The stud 21 should then be in the form of an electric plug having a wiping contact with concentric conductors inthe socket. A wire from the plug should then extend either through or around the handle 28 and be connected to the pad by any appropriate arrangement, such as that described above, sufficient slack being. left in the wire to permit vertical adjustment of the bar.

The invention is not limited to-the structure shown and described, or to the modification suggested above, but includes all devices. coming within the scope of the appended claims, or their equivalents.

I claim:

1. A collar pressing machine comprising a collar supporting form and an ironing appliance operatively associated therewith to 'f'aci'litate ironing of the exterior surfaces 'of collars on said form,

Said fOTm p si a substantially vertically disposed tapering body having a length in excess of its mean diameter. and adapted to receive collars of different sizes at different levels in snug fit thereon, said ironing appliance comprising'an ironing pad mounted for movement on an axis ment with collars of all sizes positioned on said form at all different levels thereon;

2. A collar pressing machine comprising a form adapted to serve as a support for a collar to be pressed, said form being of a frusto-conical shape corresponding substantially to the natural taper of a collar, whereby a collar may be applied thereto over the small end and moved toward the large end until a snug fit is secured between the collar and form to shape the collar to its original and natural taper, in combination with an ironing device having an ironing face adjustably mounted longitudinally of the surface of said form and adapted to be moved over the surface of a collar positioned on said form, whereby said collar may be shaped and smoothed.

3. A collar pressing machine comprising a form adapted to serve as a support for a collar to be pressed, said form being of a tapering shape corresponding substantially to the natural taper of a collar, whereby a collar may be applied thereto over the small end and moved toward the large end until a snug fit is secured between the collar and form to shape the collar to its original and natural taper, said form having a longitudinal groove in its outer surface adapted to receive the collar button of collars placed thereon, in combination with an ironing device mounted for movement over the surface of said form and adapted to be moved over the surface of a collar positioned on said form, whereby said collar may be shaped and smoothed.

e. A collar pressing machine comprising a form adapted to serve as a support for a collar to be pressed, said form being of a shape to receive collars of different sizes in snug fit on its exterior surface, in combination with an ironing appliance pivoted to said form and mounted for movement over the exterior surface of the form, said appliance comprising an ironing pad operatively associated with the pivotal connection of said appliance and mounted for ironing movement on a path concentric to the exterior surface of the form on a transverse plane thereof said pad being bodily movable longitudinally of the formto change the position of the pad so as to engage collars positioned at different points on said form.

5. A collar pressing machine comprising a heated form adapted to serve as a support for a collar to be pressed, said form being of tapering shape and being adapted to receive collars of different sizes in snug fit on its exterior surface, said form having an axially disposed socket in its upper end, in combination with an ironing device pivotally connected to said socket and mounted for rotation on lines concentric to the collar receiving surface of said form, said ironing device having an ironing face mounted for bodily movement longitudinally of the form to change the adjustment of the ironing device for operation upon collars of different sizes positioned on said form at different points.

6. A collar pressing machine comprising a heated form adapted to serve as a support for a collar to be pressed, said form being of a shape to receive collars of different sizes in snug fit at different positions on its exterior surface, in combination with an ironing appliance pivoted to said form and mounted for movement over the exterior surface of the form, said appliance including an ironing pad mounted for adjustment longitudinally of said form to correspond to the different positions assumed by collars of different size, said pad having an inner face which is concave on Y a plane at right angles to the axis of said form, said face being adapted to embrace portions of the convex outer surface of collars positioned on said form, to iron the same.

'7. A collar pressing machine comprising a heated vertically disposed form adapted to serve as a support for collars to be pressed, said form being of vertically tapering shape, whereby collars of different sizes may be supported thereon at difierent levels in snug fit, in combination with an ironing appliance including a smoothing pad mounted for movement over the surface of said form along horizontal paths concentric to the surface thereof, said appliance including adjustable means for varying the vertical position of said pad to correspond to the levels at which collars of different sizes are supported on the form.

8. A collar pressing machine comprising a heated vertically disposed form adapted to serve as a support for collars to be pressed, said form being of vertically tapering shape, whereby collars of varying sizes may be supported hereon at different levels in snug fit, in combination with an ironing appliance comprising a member pivotally mounted upon the form, a smoothing pad, and a substantially vertically disposed bar connected at one of its ends to said member and at its other end to said pad, said pad being mounted for movement over the surface of said form along horizontal paths concentric to the surface thereof, the connection at one end of said vertically disposed bar being adjustable, whereby the vertical position of said pad may be varied to correspond to the different levels at which collars of different sizes are supported on said form.

9. A collar pressing machine comprising a heated vertically disposed form adapted to serve as a support for collars to be pressed, said form being of vertically tapering shape, whereby collars of different sizes may be supported thereon at different levels in snug fit, in combination with an ironing appliance comprising a member pivotally mounted upon the upper end of the form, a smoothing pad, and a substantially vertically disposed bar connected at its upper end to said mem-- ber and adjacent its lower end to said pad, said pad being mounted for movement over the surface of said form along horizontal paths concentric to the surface thereof, connection at the upper end of said bar, between the bar and the pivoted member being adjustable, whereby the 1 vertical position of said'bar and pad may be varied to correspond to the different levels at which collars of different sizes are supported on said form.

10. A collar pressing machine comprising a heated vertically disposed form adapted to serve as a support for collars to be pressed, said form being of vertically tapering shape, whereby collars of varying sizes may be supported thereon at different levels in snug fit, in combination with an ironing appliance mounted for movement over the surface of said form, said ironing appliance comprising a stud disposed on the vertical axis of the form at one end thereof, an arm projecting laterally from the stud beyond the side wall of the form at that end and pivotally mounted for rotation about the axis of said form, a clamp adjacent the outer end of the arm, a bar adjustably mounted in said clamp and extending along the surface of said form, and an ironing pad on the other end of the bar, whereby the bar may be vertically adjusted in said clamp to permit said pad to assume different vertical positions correof different sizes are supported on said form.

11. A collar pressing machine comprising a heated vertically disposed form adapted to serve as a support for collars to be pressed, said form being of vertically tapered shape, whereby collars of varying sizes may be supported thereon at different levels in snug fit, in combination with an ironing appliance mounted for movement over the surface of said form, said ironing appliance comprising a stud disposed on the vertical axis of the form at the upper end thereof, an arm pro;- jecting laterally from the stud beyond the side wall of the form at the upper end and pivotally mounted for rotation about the axis of said form, a clamp adjacent the outer end of the arm, a depending bar adjustably mounted on said clamp and extending along the surface of said form, and an ironing pad on the lower end of the bar, whereby the bar may be vertically adjusted in said clamp to permit said pad to assume difi'erent vertical positions corresponding to the different levels at which collars of different sizes are supported on said form. r

12'. A collar pressing machine comprising a form adapted to serve as a support for co lar to be pressed, said form being of tapering shape, whereby collars of diilerent sizes may be supported thereon at different positions in snug fit, in combination with an ironing appliance pivoted to said form and mounted for movement over the collar receiving surface of the form, said appliance including an ironing pad mounted for adjustment longitudinally of said tapering form to engage collars supported at difierent pains thereon, said pad having an inner concave face, the arc of concavity of which is no less than the curve of the surface of said form at the largest collar receiving portion, whereby a central section of the concave face of the pad will contact collars of all sizes on said form to permit ironing.

of said collars. v

13. A collar pressing machine comprising a form adapted to serve as a support for a collar to be pressed, said form being of a shape; to receive collars of different sizes In snug fit on its exterior surface and being heated by an internal electrical heating element, in combination with an ironing appliance mounted for movement over the collar receiving surface of the. form, said appliance comprising an electrically heated ironing pad mounted for adjustment longitudinally of said form to engage collars supported at different ositions thereon, said pad being adapted to cooperate with the heated form to'permit ironing of collars supported on said form.

, 14. A collar pressing machine comprising a; form'adapted to serve as a support for collars to be pressed, said form being of longitudinally tapering shape, whereby collars of different sizes may be supported thereon at different positions in snug fit, in combination with an ironing appliance including a smoothing pad mounted for movement over the surface of said form along paths transverse to the axis of the form and concentric'to the surface thereof, said-appliance in luding adjustable means for varying the longitudinal, position of said pad on said form to correspond to the difierent positions at which collars of diiierent sizes are supported on the form,,said pad having a longitudinal dimension at leastequalto the dimension of a collar at the highest point, whereby the entire surface of a collar may be ironed without changing the adjustment of said pad.

15.Acollar pressing machine comprising a heatedforin adapted to serve as a support for collars to be pressed, said form being of a tapering shape corresponding substantially to the natural taper of a collar, whereby a collar may be applied thereto over the small end and moved toward the large end until a snug fit is secured between the collar and the form to shape-the collar to its original and natural taper, in combination with an, ironing device removably mounted upon the smaller end of the form and comprising an ironing element mounted for adjustment longitudinally of the tapering form and constructed and arranged for movement over the surface of a collar positioned thereon, the removal of said ironing appliance permitting free application and removal of collars to and from said form Without hindrance by the ironing device.

16. An ironing tool for use with a heated collar supporting form, said tool being adapted to iron and smooth the upper rounded edge of a collar supported on said iormand comprising an ironing pad having a race which is concave on one to correspond substantially to the convex outer surface'of acollar supported on said form, 

